Pharmaceutical composition comprising an oil/water/oil double microemulsion incorporated into a solid support

ABSTRACT

Pharamaceutical compositions in the form of powders or microgranules, comprising an oil/water/oil double microemulsion incorporated into a solid support constituted by a microporous inorganic substance or by an adsorbent inorganic colloidal substance or by a cross-linked swellable in water polymer.

PRIOR ART

The hydrophobic characteristics and consequently low water solubility of many drugs make it such that their oral bioavailability is low or however non optimal. Many approaches have been proposed and also realised in the past in an attempt to overcome this problem, such as for example micronisation, the inclusion in complexing agents such as cyclodextrine, co-precipitation with linear hydrophilic polymers etc.

In the last few years, a line of approach which has shown itself to be particularly fruitful is that based on the use of oils, essentially constituted by mixtures of mono-, di-, and tri-glycerides, associated with surfactants and/or with a hydrophilic phase, such as for example esters of propyleneglycols or glycerol.

In this case the poorly bio-available drug is dissolved in the above described mixtures and the resultant solution is usually introduced into a capsule of soft gelatine.

This oil-based approach has been further developed with appropriate systems, formulated such that when dispersed in water, spontaneously form emulsions or microemulsions (WO 99/29300, U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,858), in which the degree of fine dispersion results in a further potential improvement in bioavailability.

Because, in this system, the drug is dissolved in a liquid phase, further improvement studies have attempted to transform such liquid phases into dry solid powders so as to allow a greater workability in terms of industrial processes with the attainment of a solid pharmaceutical form, such as a pill or a capsule. For example, the incorporation of oil/surfactant mixtures into cross-linked polymers has been described in the patent EP 0598337, whilst auto-emulsifying compositions have been solidified through their entrapment into gelifying linear polymers such as cellulose derivatives (Proceed. Int'l Symp. Control. Rel. Bioact. Mater., 27(2000), #6209).

Notwithstanding the numerous studies addressed at the achievement of improved compositions, the compositions in the known art display unsatisfactory solubility and velocity of dissolution characteristics.

SUMMARY

Now we have surprisingly found that when a poorly hydrosoluble drug is added to a double microemulsion oil/water/oil (o/w/o) and this is incorporated into a solid support constituted by a microporous inorganic substance or by an adsorbent colloidal inorganic substance or by a cross-linked swellable in water polymer, unexpected improvements in the solubility and the velocity of dissolution of the drug with respect to the previously described compositions are obtained.

For this reason, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition in the form of powders or microgranules, comprising an oil/water/oil double micro emulsion incorporated into a solid support constituted by a microporous inorganic substance or by an adsorbent colloidal inorganic substance or by a cross-linked swellable in water polymer, with the drug dissolved or dispersed in one or more of the three phases of the double microemulsion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 represent the size of the oil microdrops released from the compositions in the examples N^(o). 2, 3, and 4, in buffered solution at pH 7.5 at 37° C.

FIG. 4 shows the solubilisation kinetics data (“non sink”) of the cyclosporin released from the composition in example N^(o) 2 (curve (a)) (o/w/o double microemulsion on colloidal silica) in comparison to cyclosporin as such (curve (b)), in buffer at pH 7.5, at 37° C.

FIG. 5 shows the solubilisation kinetics data (“non sink”) of cyclosporin from the composition in example N^(o) 1 (curve (a)) (o/w/o double microemulsion incorporated into microporous silica) in comparison to cyclosporin as such (curva (b)), in buffered solution at pH 7.5, at 37° C.

FIG. 6 shows the solubilisation kinetics data (“non sink”) of cyclosporin released from the composition in example N^(o) 3 (curve (a)) (o/w/o double microemulsion incorporated into cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone) in comparison to the cyclosporin released from a simple oil/surfactant mixture in cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (composition in example N^(o) 4) (curve (b)), in buffer at pH 7.5 at 37° C.

FIG. 7 shows the dissolution velocity data (“sink”) of cyclosporin released from the composition in example N^(o) 3 (curve (a)), in comparison to the cyclosporin as such (curve (b)) in buffer at pH 7.5, at 37° C.

FIG. 8 shows the dissolution velocity data (“sink”) of the cyclosporin released by the composition in example 3 (curve (a)) (o/w/o double microemulsion incorporated into cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone) in comparison to the simple oil/surfactant mixture loaded onto cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone with the composition in example N^(o) 4 (curve (b)), in buffer at pH 7.5 at 37° C.

FIG. 9 shows the dissolution velocity (“sink”) of hydrocortisone acetate from the composition in example N^(o) 6 (curve (a)) (o/w/o double microemulsion incorporated into microporous silica) in comparison with the simple o/w microemulsion incorporated into microporous silica (composition in example N^(o) 7) (curve (b)), in buffer at pH 5.5 at 37° C.

FIG. 10 shows the dissolution velocity data of ubidecarenone released from the composition in example N^(o) 8 (curve (a)) (o/w/o double microemulsion incorporated into cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone) in comparison to the simple oil/surfactant microemulsion incorporated into the same polymer (composition of example N^(o) 9), in buffer at pH 7.5 added to sodium lauryl sulphate, at 37° C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The characteristics and the advantages of the pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention comprising an oil/water/oil o/w/o double microemulsion incorporated into a solid support will be outlined in the following detailed description.

The preparation process of the compositions according to the present invention can be outlined as follows, essentially distinguishing two main stages, i.e. the preparation of the double microemulsion and the incorporation of that double microemulsion onto a solid support.

1. The o/w/o double microemulsion according to the present invention is prepared according to a process comprising the following stages:

-   -   a) dissolution of the drug in an oil or in a mixture of oils;     -   b) addition of the oil solution of stage a) to water or to an         aqueous solution;     -   c) addition of surfactant and optionally of cosurfactant to the         mixture of stage b) and agitation with the formation of the o/w         microemulsion;     -   d) addition of the o/w microemulsion of stage c) to an oil or to         a mixture of oils optionally containing drug and/or surfactant         and/or cosurfactant and agitation with the formation of the         o/w/o double microemulsion.

2. The o/w/o double microemulsion of point 1 is incorporated into a solid support in powder form, slowly adding said microemulsion to said solid support kept under constant mixing/agitation, using equipments such as high mixing efficiency granulators, extruders or fluid bed granulators.

One obtains the support/double microemulsion composition in the form of a powder or of microgranules which can be sieved to eliminate the aggregates.

Possible variations to said process can be contrived in response to different objectives, amongst these that of increasing by as much as possible the amount of drug incorporated.

For example, during the double microemulsion preparation phase, the drug can be dissolved not just in the internal oil phase of the first microemulsion (stage (a) of point 1) but also in the oil or in the mixture of stage (d).

A further variation is that of preliminarily loading the drug onto the solid support, for example dissolving it in water or in an appropriate mixture of solvents and adding the solution to the solid support, with later drying to eliminate the water and/or the solvent components of the mixture. To the resulting drug/solid support powder is then added the double microemulsion prepared as in point 1, according to the addition method described in point 2.

According to a further variation, the oil phase, besides the dissolved drug it contains also drug in suspended form so that the double microemulsion at the moment of incorporation into the solid support contains also solid drug particles. Unexpectedly, also in this case the clearly improved properties of passing into solution with respect to the drug as such are maintained.

In any case, for all the variations of the process described above, the final characteristics of the compositions obtained do not vary substantially from those obtainable by following the primary process, as well as further minor variations to the process herein described can be introduced maintaining the final characteristics of the compositions constant.

From the description of the process it appears that the o/w/o double microemulsion is constituted of oil, water, surfactant, cosurfactant and that the internal oil phase, and optionally also the external oil phase, contain the dissolved or suspended drug.

Such double microemulsion has the following composition by weight. oil (internal phase) from 1.5% to 3.0% water or aqueous solution from 6.1% to 10.0% Surfactant from 2.4% to 5.0% Cosurfactant from 0.0% to 2.0% oil (external phase) from 80.0% to 90.0%

Preferred drugs for the present invention are drugs soluble in oil and sparingly soluble in biological aqueous fluids, particularly drugs with low polarity. Non-exhaustive examples of these drugs are megestrol acetate, hydrocortisone acetate, ubidecarenone, lovastatin, cyclosporin, pyroxicam, nifedipine, isoflavone, temazepam, carbamazepine, glibenclamide, progesterone and ibuprofen.

The oil used for the microemulsion is an oil of plant origin such as olive oil, soya oil, corn oil and coconut oil; or an oil of synthetic origin, such as isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, ethyl laurate etc.

Short, medium or long chain fatty acids and mixtures of mono-, di-, and tri-glycerides of plant, synthetic or semi-synthetic origin and their esterified derivatives, for example with polyethylene glycols may also be used.

The surfactants can be of natural or synthetic origins. One can also use combinations of surfactants with different characteristics. Non-exhaustive examples of surfactants particularly suited to the present invention are surfactants having the trade names of: Tween®, Brij®, Span®, Myrj®, Poloxamer® etc.

The cosurfactants can be of synthetic origins such as for example short chain alcohols such as ethanol, isopropanol, etc., or of natural origins, such as for example phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and derivatives thereof.

The aqueous phase of the double microemulsion can be constituted by demineralised water or by an acidic or basic aqueous solution or by an aqueous buffer solution. The solid support into which the double microemulsion is incorporated is selected from the group constituted by microporous inorganic substances, colloidal inorganic adsorbent substances with high surface area or by cross-linked swellable in water polymers. The microporous inorganic substances are selected from the group comprising silica, silicates, zeolites, alumina, activated carbon, etc.

The colloidal inorganic adsorbent substances are selected for example from colloidal silica, magnesium trisilicate, argil, magnesium hydroxide, talc, etc.

The cross-linked reswellable in water polymers are selected from the group comprising cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (crospovidone), cross-linked sodium carboxymethystarch, cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, cross-linked polystyrene and cross-linked polymethylmetacrylate.

The weight ratio between the o/w/o double microemulsion and the solid support is comprised of between 1:100 and 25:1, preferably between 1:2 and 5:1.

The amount of drug in the final composition is comprised of between 0.001% and 75% by weight with respect to the total weight of the final composition and preferably between 0.01% and 30%.

The compositions of the present invention display unexpectedly improved characteristics regarding the bioavailability of the drugs, in particular:

-   -   a) The sizes of the oil microdrops released by the solid support         in an aqueous environment are less than 1 micrometer or however         close to that limit.     -   b) The velocity of dissolution (“sink”) determined in         appropriate aqueous buffer at physiological pH is superior to         that attainable with oil/surfactant mixtures or with simple         microemulsions.     -   c) The solubilisation kinetics (“non sink”) determined in         aqueous buffer at physiological pH is superior to the kinetics         attainable with oilvsurfactant mixtures or with simple         microemulsions.

For clarity of interpretation it should be underlined that the meanings of “sink” and “non sink” are as follows:

To conduct a dissolution test in “sink” conditions means to introduce into the medium of dissolution a quantity of sample such that the concentration of the main ingredient is less than 20% of the maximum solubility of the drug in the same medium of dissolution.

Instead to conduct a dissolution test in “non sink” conditions means to introduce into the medium of dissolution a quantity of sample equal to at least 50-100 times the solubility of the drug in the medium of dissolution.

The tests carried out in “sink” conditions emphasise the velocity of dissolution, whilst the tests carried out in “non sink” conditions emphasise the saturation concentration of the main ingredient at equilibrium.

The compositions object of the present invention are formulated for therapeutic use in capsules, pills, packets, suspensions, etc. with the appropriate addition of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients or diluents.

For non-exhaustive and merely illustrative purposes of the present invention, some examples of preparations and the characterisation tests of the compositions obtained are reported herein.

EXAMPLE N^(o) 1

Components of the o/w/o microemulsion Quantity (g) Cyclosporin 2.89 Akoline ® (internal phase) 0.96 Demineralised water 2.69 Tween 80 ® 1.05 Akoline ® (external phase) 29.69

An o/w microemulsion was first of all prepared by magnetically stirring Akoline® (0.96 g) containing dissolved cyclosporin (0.29 g), demineralised water (2.69 g) and Tween 80® (1.05 g), at a temperature of 25° C. and maintaining the agitation at a velocity of 500 rpm for 1 hour.

The o/w microemulsion thus obtained has then been added using magnetic stirring at a speed of 500 rpm, to a solution of cyclosporin (2.60 g) in Akoline® (29.69 g) and the agitation has been maintained for 2 hours, obtaining in this manner an o/w/o double microemulsion containing cyclosporin.

The microemulsion thus obtained has been incorporated into microporous silica Syloid® by granulation in a high efficiency granulator from Società Battagion (Bergamo-Italy).

The weight ratio between the o/w/o microemulsion and the silica was 2.5:1.0.

The composition obtained was in the form of a powder, having good flow characteristics and uniform granulometry.

EXAMPLE N^(o) 2

An o/w/o double microemulsion has been prepared as in example 1.

The microemulsion has then been incorporated into microporous silica Aerosil 300® by granulation in a high efficiency granulator from Società Battagion (Bergamo-Italy).

The weight ratio between the o/w/o microemulsion and the silica Aerosil 300® was of 2.5:1.0.

The composition obtained was in the form of a powder having good flow characteristics and uniform granulometry.

EXAMPLE N^(o) 3

An o/w/o double microemulsion has been prepared as in example 1.

The microemulsion has then been incorporated into the cross-linked polymer crospovidone Kollidon CL® in the weight ratio 1.2:1.0 in a twin screw extruder from APV Company (U.K.) and the product obtained has been spheronised.

The composition obtained was in the form of a powder with good flow characteristics and uniform granulometry.

EXAMPLE N^(o) 4 (Comparison)

Components Quantity (g) Cyclosporin 2.89 Tween 80 ® 3.44 Akoline ® 13.72

A solution of cyclosporin (2.89 g) in Akoline® (13.72 g) has been firstly prepared with magnetic stirring, at a speed of 100 rpm for 4 hours. To the solution have then been added 3.44 g of Tween 80® and the agitation has been maintained for an hour.

The solution obtained has been finally incorporated into the cross-linked polymer crospovidone Kollidon CL® in a weight ratio of 1.0:1.0 in a twin screw extruder APV (U.K.) and the product has then been spheronised.

The powder obtained had good flow characteristics, and uniform granulometry.

EXAMPLE N^(o) 5

Components of the o/w/o microemulsion Quantity (g) Cyclosporin 0.569 Labrafil ®/Lecithin (5:1) (internal phase) 0.118 0.1% HCl aqueous solution 0.326 Tween 80 ® 0.120 Labrafil ®/Lecithin (5:1) (external phase) 8.01

An o/w microemulsion has been firstly prepared through mixing by magnetic stirring at a temperature of 25° C., a mixture of Labrafil®/lecithin (5:1) (0.118 g) containing dissolved cyclosporin (0.083 g), a 0,1% HCl aqueous solution (0.326 g) and the surfacting agent Tween 80® (0.120 g) leaving with agitatin for 2 hours at 200 rpm.

The o/w microemulsion has then been added with magnetic stirring at a speed of 500 rpm for 2 hours, to the solution of cyclosporin (0.486 g) in Labrafil®/lecithin (8.01 g) thus obtaining an o/w/o double micoremulsion containing cyclosporin.

The microemulsion thus obtained has been incorporated into crospovidone Kollidon Cl M® by granulation in a high efficiency granulator from Società Battagion (Bergamo-Italy). The weight ratio between the o/w/o microemulsion and the crospovidone was of 0.69:1.

The composition obtained was in the form of a powder having good flow characteristics and uniform granulometry.

EXAMPLE N^(o) 6

Components of the o/w/o microemulsion Quantity Hydrocortisone acetate 5.0 Akoline ® (internal phase) 1.90 Demineralised water 6.00 Tween 80 ® 2.40 Akoline ® (external phase) 48.0

An o/w microemulsion has been firstly prepared through mixing by magnetic stirring at a temperauure of 25° C. Akoline® (1.80 g) containing dissolved hydrorcortisone acetate (1.40 g), demineralised water (6.00 g) and Tween 80® (2.40 g), maintaining the agitation at a speed of 500 rpm for two hours.

The o/w microemulsion thus obtained has then been added with magnetic stirring at a speed of 500 rpm to a solution of hydrocortisone acetate (3.60 g) in Akoline (48.0 g) and the agitation has been maintained for 3 hours, obtaining an o/w/o double microemulsion containing hydrocortisone acetate.

The microemulsion thus obtained has been incorporated into microporous silica Syloid® by granulation in a high efficiency granulator from Società Battagion (Bergamo-Italy).

The weight ratio between the o/w/o microemulsion and the microporous silica is of 2.0:1.0.

The composition obtained was in the form of a powder having good flow characteristics and uniform granulometry.

EXAMPLE N^(o) 7 (Comparison)

Components of the o/w microemulsion Quantity (g) Hydrocortisone acetate 0.56 Akoline (internal phase) 3.18 Demineralised water 4.4 Tween 80 ® 1.90

An oil/water microemulsion has been firstly prepared through mixing by magnetic stirring at temperature of 25° C. Akoline® (3.18 g) containing dissolved hydrocortisone acetate (0.56 g), demineralised water (4.4 g) and Tween 80® (1.9 g), maintaining the magnetic stirring at a speed of 500 rpm for 2 hours.

The microemulsion thus obtained has been incorporated into microporous silica Syloid® by granulation in a high efficiency granulator from Società Battagion (Bergamo-Italy).

The weight ratio between the o/w microemulsion and the microporous silica was of 1.0:1.0.

EXAMPLE N^(o) 8

Components of the o/w/o microemulsion Quantity (g) Ubidecarenone 0.30 Labrafil ®/Lecithin (5:1) (internal phase) 0.130 0.1% HCl aqueous solution 0.335 Tween 80 ® 0.120 Labrafil ®/Lecithin (5:1) (external phase) 8.30

An o/w microemulsion has been firstly prepared through mixing by magnetic stirring at a temperature of 25° C. the Labrafil®/lecithin mixture (5:1) (0.130 g) containing dissolved Ubidecarenone (0.065 g) with the awueous solution containing 0.1% HCl (0.335 g) and Tween 80® (0.120 g), maintaining the magnetic stirring at a speed of 350 rpm for 2 hours.

The o/w microemulsion thus obtained has then been added with magnetic stirring at a speed of 500 rpm to a solution of Ubidecrenone (0.235 b) in Labrafil/Lecithin (8.30 g) and the agitation has been maintained for 4 hours, obtaining and o/w/o double microemulsion containing Ubidecarenone.

The microemulsion thus obtained has been incorporated into the cross-linked polymer crospovidone Kollidon CL® in the weight ratio 2.2:1.0 in a twin screw extruder APV (U.K.) And the product has then been spheronised.

A product has been obtained in microgranular form.

EXAMPLE N^(o) 9 (Comparison)

Components of the o/w microemulsion Quantity (g) Ubidecarenone 2.09 Labrafil ®/Lecithin (5:1) (internal phase) 2.07 0.1% HCl aqueous solution 5.87 Tween 80 ® 2.00

An o/w microemulsion has been prepared through mixing by magnetic stirring at a temperature of 25° C. the Labrafil®/Lecithin mixture (5:1) (2.07 g) containing siddolved Ubidecarenone (2.09 g), the aqueous solution containing 0.1% HCl (5.87 g) and Tween 80® (2.00 g), maintaining the magnetic stirring at a speed of 400 rpm for 3 hours.

The microemulsion thus obtained has been incorporated into the cross-linked polymer crospovidone Kollidon CL® in a weight ratio of 1.0:1.0 in a twin screw extruder APV (U.K.) and the product has then been spheronised.

A product has been obtained in microgranular form. 

1. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a poorly soluble drug, in powder or microgranular form, comprising an oil/water/oil double microemulsion incorporated into a solid support constituted by a microporous inorganic substance or by an adsorbent colloidal inorganic substance or by a cross-linked swellable in water polymer, wherein said drug is dissolved or dispersed in one or more of the phases of said microemulsion.
 2. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said microemulsion has the following composition by weight. oil (internal phase) from 1.5% to 3.0% water or aqueous solution from 6.1% to 10.0% Surfactant from 2.4% to 2.0% Cosurfactant from 0.0% a 2.0% oil (external phase) from 80.0% to 90.0%


3. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said drug is chosen from the group comprising megestrol acetate, hydrocortisone acetate, ubidecarenone, lovastatin, cyclosporin, pyroxican, nifedipine, isoflavone, temazepam, carbamazepine, glibenclamide, progesterone and ibuprofen.
 4. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said oil is selected from the group comprising olive oil, soya oil, corn oil, coconut oil, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, ethyl laurate, fatty acids, mixtures of mono-, di- and tri-glycerides and derivatives thereof esterified with polyethyleneglycols.
 5. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said surfactants are selected from the group comprising Tween®, Brij®, Span®, Myrj® and Polaxamer®.
 6. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said cosurfactants are selected from the group comprising ethanol, isopropanol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol.
 7. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said microporous inorganic substance is selected from the group comprising silica, silicates, zeolytes, allumina and activated carbon.
 8. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said adsorbent, colloidal inorganic substance is selected from the group comprising colloidal silica, magnesium trisilicate, argil, magnesium hydroxide and talc.
 9. The compositions according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said cross-linked swellable in water polymers are selected from the group comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone, cross-linked sodium carboxymethylstarch, cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose, cross-linked polystyrene and cross-linked polymethylmetacrylate.
 10. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the weight ratio between said microemulsion and said solid support is comprised of between 1:100 and 25:1.
 11. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the weight ratio between said microemulsion and said solid support is comprised of between 1:2 and 5:1.
 12. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the drug content is comprised of between 0.001 % and 75%.
 13. The composition according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the drug content is comprised of between 0.01 % and 30%.
 14. The composition according to claim 1, formulated with pharmaceutically acceptable excipients or diluents, for use in capsules, pills, sachets and suspensions.
 15. A process for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition such as defined in claim 1, characterised by the fact of comprising the following stages: a) dissolution of the drug in an oil or in a mixture of oils; b) addition of the oil solution of stage a) to water or to an aqueous solution; c) addition of a surfactant and optionally of a cosurfactants to the mixture of stage b) and agitation with the formation of an o/w microemulsion; d) addition of the o/w microemulsion of stage c) to an oil or to a mixture of oils optionally containing drug and/or surfactant and/or cosurfactant and agitation with formation of the o/w/o microemulsion; e) incorporation of the o/w/o microemulsion of stage d) into a support in the form of a powder.
 16. The process according to claim 15, characterised by the fact that said oil or mixture of oils contains also a drug in the form of a suspension.
 17. The process according to claim 15, characterised by the fact that said support in the form of a powder is preliminarily loaded with a drug.
 18. The process according to claim 15, characterised by the fact that said. incorporation is carried out by slowly adding said microemulsion to said support in powder form, maintaining said support under constant mixing/agitation in an equipment selected from high efficiency of mixing granulators, extruders and fluid bed granulators. 